Biosafety risk assessment approaches for insect-resistant genetically modified crops
Background: Environmental risk assessment (ERA) is imperative for commercial release of insect resistant, genetically modified crops (IR-GMCs).An insect specific, spider venom peptideω-HXTX-Hv1a (Hvt) was successfully expressed in cotton plants. The cotton plants producing Hvt protein have demonstra...
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| Format: | Article |
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The Running Line
2017-02-01
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| Series: | Advancements in Life Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.als-journal.com/423-17/ |
| _version_ | 1797760349198352384 |
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| author | Inaam Ullah Muhammad Asif Mazhar Hussain Ranjha Romana Iftikhar Midrar Ullah Nasir Mehmood Khan Muhammad Ashfaq |
| author_facet | Inaam Ullah Muhammad Asif Mazhar Hussain Ranjha Romana Iftikhar Midrar Ullah Nasir Mehmood Khan Muhammad Ashfaq |
| author_sort | Inaam Ullah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Environmental risk assessment (ERA) is imperative for commercial release of insect resistant, genetically modified crops (IR-GMCs).An insect specific, spider venom peptideω-HXTX-Hv1a (Hvt) was successfully expressed in cotton plants. The cotton plants producing Hvt protein have demonstrated resistance against economically important insect pest species. The study was performed to assess the effects of Hvt producing cotton plants on Honey bees (Apis mellifera).
Methods: Three approaches were used to evaluate the effects of Hvt protein on adults of honeybees; whole plant assays in flight cages, in vitro assays with pollen of Hvt-cotton, and assays with elevated levels of purified Hvt protein. Pollens of Bt cotton or purified Bt proteins were used as control.
Results: The field experiments did not yield any meaningful data due to high rate of mortality in all treatments including the control. However, the laboratory experiments provided conclusive results in which Hvt, purified or in pollens, did not affect the survival or longevity of the bees compared to the control. During the course of study we were able to compare the quality, effectiveness and economics of different experiments.
Conclusions: We conclude that Hvt either purified or produced in cotton plants do not affect the survival or longevity of honey bees. We are also of the view that starting at laboratory level assays not only gives meaningful data but also saves a lot of time and money that can be spent on other important questions regarding safety of a particular transgenic crop. Hence, a purpose-based, tiered approach could be the best choice for pre-release ERA of IR-GMCs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T18:57:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c521f03928844aaa5ec16871014daa3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-5380 2310-5380 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T18:57:19Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | The Running Line |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advancements in Life Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c521f03928844aaa5ec16871014daa32023-08-02T06:45:26ZengThe Running LineAdvancements in Life Sciences2310-53802310-53802017-02-01423946Biosafety risk assessment approaches for insect-resistant genetically modified cropsInaam Ullah0Muhammad Asif1Mazhar Hussain Ranjha2Romana Iftikhar3Midrar Ullah4Nasir Mehmood Khan5Muhammad Ashfaq6Department of Biotechnology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Sheringal – PakistanAgricultural Biotechnology Division, National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad – PakistanDepartment of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad - PakistanDepartment of Botany, Government College University for Women, Faisalabad – PakistanDepartment of Biotechnology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Sheringal – PakistanDepartment of Biotechnology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Sheringal – PakistanBiodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON – Canada Background: Environmental risk assessment (ERA) is imperative for commercial release of insect resistant, genetically modified crops (IR-GMCs).An insect specific, spider venom peptideω-HXTX-Hv1a (Hvt) was successfully expressed in cotton plants. The cotton plants producing Hvt protein have demonstrated resistance against economically important insect pest species. The study was performed to assess the effects of Hvt producing cotton plants on Honey bees (Apis mellifera). Methods: Three approaches were used to evaluate the effects of Hvt protein on adults of honeybees; whole plant assays in flight cages, in vitro assays with pollen of Hvt-cotton, and assays with elevated levels of purified Hvt protein. Pollens of Bt cotton or purified Bt proteins were used as control. Results: The field experiments did not yield any meaningful data due to high rate of mortality in all treatments including the control. However, the laboratory experiments provided conclusive results in which Hvt, purified or in pollens, did not affect the survival or longevity of the bees compared to the control. During the course of study we were able to compare the quality, effectiveness and economics of different experiments. Conclusions: We conclude that Hvt either purified or produced in cotton plants do not affect the survival or longevity of honey bees. We are also of the view that starting at laboratory level assays not only gives meaningful data but also saves a lot of time and money that can be spent on other important questions regarding safety of a particular transgenic crop. Hence, a purpose-based, tiered approach could be the best choice for pre-release ERA of IR-GMCs.http://www.als-journal.com/423-17/BiosafetyGMCsω- HXTX-Hv1aApis melliferaBiotechnology |
| spellingShingle | Inaam Ullah Muhammad Asif Mazhar Hussain Ranjha Romana Iftikhar Midrar Ullah Nasir Mehmood Khan Muhammad Ashfaq Biosafety risk assessment approaches for insect-resistant genetically modified crops Advancements in Life Sciences Biosafety GMCs ω- HXTX-Hv1a Apis mellifera Biotechnology |
| title | Biosafety risk assessment approaches for insect-resistant genetically modified crops |
| title_full | Biosafety risk assessment approaches for insect-resistant genetically modified crops |
| title_fullStr | Biosafety risk assessment approaches for insect-resistant genetically modified crops |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biosafety risk assessment approaches for insect-resistant genetically modified crops |
| title_short | Biosafety risk assessment approaches for insect-resistant genetically modified crops |
| title_sort | biosafety risk assessment approaches for insect resistant genetically modified crops |
| topic | Biosafety GMCs ω- HXTX-Hv1a Apis mellifera Biotechnology |
| url | http://www.als-journal.com/423-17/ |
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